British to permit transsexual golfers

Policy change allows access to women's Open

LONDON - Transsexual golfers will be allowed to play in this year's women's British Open in a policy change made by the Ladies Golf Union.

The move, announced Wednesday, comes 11 months after Danish-born Mianne Bagger became the first male-born golfer to play in a professional women's tournament. The LGU, which governs amateur golf in Britain and also runs the women's British Open, followed a similar move made last year by the Ladies European Tour, the governing body of professional women's golf in Europe.

Bagger, who had a sex-change operation in 1995, is playing this season on the Ladies European Tour and expected to enter the women's British Open, which is open to amateurs and professionals.

The LPGA allows only women who are female at birth.

The first tournament under the new rules will be the Ladies British Amateur, June 7-11. The British Open is July 28-31 at Royal Birkdale.

LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw said late last year his organization was considering a change, partially because of rule changes made by other golf bodies and the International Olympic Committee.